Basketball goal



y 1965 D. c. HUMPHREY 3,194,555

BASKETBALL GOAL Filed D60. 27, 1962 DELBY C. HUMPHREY 28 28 F 4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,194,555 BASKETBALL GOAL Delby C. Humphrey, 726 Wabash Ave, Box 55, Terre Haute, Ind. Filed Dec. 27, 1962,, Ser. No. 247,708 3 Claims. (Cl. 273--1.5)

This invention relates to athletic equipment and is particularly concerned with an improved construction for basketball goals.

A particular object of the present invention is the provision of a basketball goal having hooks thereon in connection with which the hooks cannot easily break off from the ring.

Still another object is the provision of a basketball goal having a net with hooks thereon so interconnected that, if a hook becomes accidentally dislodged from the ring of the goal, it will be supported by its connection with the adjacent hooks.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the basketball goal constructed according to my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view looking up from beneath the goal.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view drawn at enlarged scale showing a portion of the basketball ring and two adjacent ones of the net-supported hooks that are carried thereby, and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view indicated by line 4-4 on FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, there is shown a basketball goal comprising a ring and fixed to the ring on one side is a bracket 12 for attaching the ring to a backboard. vBrace elements 14 are fixed to the dependent portion of bracket 12 and to spaced points of the ring and support the ring in the proper position.

The ring has on its underneath side a plurality of hooks 16 for detachably receiving the cords 18 forming a part of the basketball net.

'Ilhese hooks 16 are formed, as will be seen in FIG- URES 1 thru 4, from a wire bent at spaced points as indicated at Ztl, and then bent backwardly in between these spaced points to form a dependent part 22. The cords 18 are placed through the opening defined by each loop from the inside of ring it and are then hooked under dependent portion 22 so that the net is supported on the hooks.

In the usual construction, there are 3 hooks across the back of the ring between the points of connection of the ring with the support element 14, and on the front side of the ring there are usually 7 hooks. The particular number of hooks will vary, but a total number of 10 hooks as described is preferred.

According to the present invention, the hooks around the front of the ring are all integral with each other by being formed in one and the same length of wire 24. Similarly, the hooks around the back part of the ring are integral with each other by being formed from a second single piece of wire 26. The hooks are formed in the wires and then the wires are bent to the proper arcua-te configuration, and are then attached rigidly and permanently to ring 10 by welding or brazing 2'8, preferably welding, which extends the full length of each wire between each pair of adjacent hooks. The wires are thus connected with the ring along substantially their entire length of the wires and are thus extremely strongly supported. Not only is there .a considerable length of Weld material pertaining to each hook, but in the event the weld material adjacent a hook becomes broken for any reason, the hook will be held in place on account of the continuity of the wire itself and this Will permit the goal to be used until such time as it is convenient to make any necessary repairs.

I have fiound that basketball goal hooks supported in accordance with my invention are sufficiently strongly attached to the ring that the full weight of a normal player can be imposed on the net without the hooks breaking loose from the ring. This greatly improves the life and reliability of the goal and reduces the hazard of a goal becoming inoperative and requiring repair during a contest.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a basketball goal; a ring, a plurality of net supporting hooks on the bottom of the ring, said hooks comprising Wire bent to the configuration of the hook, a plurality of said hooks being formed in a single piece of Wire so as to be integral with each other, said wire being bent to the same curvature as said ring, and Welding joining the Wire to the ring along the entire length of the wire between said hooks.

2. In a basketball goal; a ring, a plurality of net supporting hooks on the bottom of the ring, said hooks comprising wire bent to the configuration of the hook, a plurality of said hooks being formed in a single piece of who so as to be integral with each other, said Wire being bent to the same curvature as said ring, and welding joining the wire to the ring, said Welding extending the entire length of the wire on both sides of the region along which the wire engages the ring except where hooks are formed in the Wire.

3. In a basketball goal; a ring, a plurality of net supporting hooks on the bottom of the ring, brace members attached to said ring at spaced points on the underneath side thereof for supporting the ring, a first single wire welded to the bottom of the ring between said points around the front part of the ring, a second single wire welded to the bottom of the ring between said points around the back part of the ring, each wire having said plurality of net supporting hooks for-med therein in spaced relation whereby the hooks and each piece of Wire are integral with each other, said wires being welded to the ring by welding extending the entire length of each wire and on both sides of the region of engagement of the wire with the ring except where hooks are formed in the wires.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BASKETBALL GOAL; A RING, A PLURALITY OF NET SUPPORTING HOOKS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RING, SAID HOOKS COMPRISING WIRE BENT TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE HOOK, A PLURALITY OF SAID HOOKS BEING FORMED IN A SINGLE PIECE OF WIRE SO AS TO BE INTEGRAL WITH EACH OTHER, SAID WIRE BEING BENT TO THE SAME CURVATURE AS SAID RING, AND WELDING JOINING THE WIRE TO THE RING ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE WIRE BETWEEN SAID HOOKS. 